Gwent news

Newport care home awaits inspectors’ report

THE head of Newport’s social services department says he is hopeful the next inspectors’ report of a council-run care home will show improvements.

Mike Nicholson, social services director, said managers had not been aware of the issues at Parklands Residential Home before they were identified by two highly critical inspections.

His comments come as senior councillors in the council’s cabinet were yesterday presented with a draft annual report from social services which says the department has enjoyed some significant achievements.

Parklands Residential Home was the subject of two damning reports by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) in January and February, which said the service failed to ensure the health, safety and well-being of residents and wasn’t properly staffed.

The CSSIW said that the home had been caring for a wide-range of people with physical and psychological needs – which wasn’t in accordance with its conditions of registration – and that staff weren’t properly trained to deal with people with complex mental health needs.

Mr Nicholson, who is also strategic director for people at the council, said the authority has put significant resources into the unit, which is registered to provide personal care to 32 people aged 65 or older.

He said: “We have provided training to the staff and we believe we’ve made significant progress on the action plan following the previous inspection.

“The inspectors have been in. We are awaiting their report. We are hoping for a much better outcome.”

He added that “middle and senior managers were not aware of the seriousness of the concerns that had been identified by the inspectorate - we should have known before the inspection the situation that had been allowed to develop in the unit and taken action.”

The draft annual report of social services for 2013/14 seen by cabinet says that the department saw some significant achievements, including creating a stable leadership team after a number of significant changes to senior management posts.

Mr Nicholson’s report will now go before full council for final consideration, following yesterday’s cabinet meeting.